Luke 2 neck....a bit disappointed

[EddieVanZ]

Hi guys. Today I went and try a new Luke in a not-so-nearby guitar shop.
Good impression, comfortable fingerboard (I prefer EVH one, though), pretty versatile, nice clean sound in 2+4 (out of phase).
What disappointed me the most is the total lack of birdseye on the neck's maple.
The owner (and also another one as well) told me that is become quite common with Lukes (and also JPs) from some time.
It's also true that I encountered some gorgeous birdseyes pics on this forum.
What's the real story? It depends on luck or has something changed lately?
I'm a bit confused right now, if I think about my '93 EBMM EVH neck (another league).
Could someone please explain?
Help very much appreciated.

Ciao!
Marco

 

[Katana6506]

Birdseye in MM necks is totally random. If there was none, it wasn't a factory issue.
The wood is rare and hard to get by nature, so it shouldn't be a shock if you don't see any in some of the necks.

 

[phatduckk]

Birdseye in MM necks is totally random. If there was none, it wasn't a factory issue.
The wood is rare and hard to get by nature, so it shouldn't be a shock if you don't see any in some of the necks.

yup +1

as Katana said, ive also heard its just way harder to get birdseye maple than it used to be. so now birdseye is just luck of the draw. a neck may have some, may have a lot, may have none. its not an option or an upgrade - just luck

 

[EddieVanZ]

Thanks guys,
I too thought initially it is just a matter of luck. Next week there will be some new arrivals at the shop, I'll keep my fingers crossed. At this point I'm thinking at a nice birdseye as my primary pick, not taking care of the color/model at all.
So I'll be considering also JPs.
Anyway it's strange, as I've never seen a "weak" birdseye on EVH/Axis models.
regards,
Marco

 

[kbaim]

If it feels and sounds close to perfection and is a color you love, I'd let the amount of birdseye slide. No question it's lovely to look at though.

There's always your next one.

 

[koogie2k]

Birdseye is nice and all...but, no one sees the back of the neck but the owner. On stage...no one sees it. I had a neck replaced on one of my JP's and there is not a spec of birdseye on it...and it is my favorite player of the 3 that I have. So, it is cosmetic and does not effect the sound of the axe at all.

 

[roburado]

I agree. If it sounds good and feels good, that's the more important thing. Pretty birdseye won't help you play any better. A comfortable, easy-to-play, good-sounding neck might.

 

[brentrocks]

actually, the more birdseye, the more movement you will get in the neck....at least that has been my experience.

every spot of birdseye in that neck is a tiny knot in the wood...to professional woodworkers and harvesters, it is considered a flaw, not in the guitar world though.

it does look sweet, but if you like the guitar, dont let the birdseye make the call...just my 2 cents!

 

[Colin]

or you could wait until you find one with the amount of birdseye you want?

 

[robelinda2]

i'm not bothered by the lack of great biredseye in my Y2D or 20th silo, the feel is BRILLIANT though, which counts.

having said that i love my Luke's crazy birdseye just fine.

 

[J-Nick]

As others have already said, don't get hold up by the amount of birdseye on the neck. My luke has decent birdseye and a little bit of flame but most important the neck feels awesome, the guitar is super light and it sounds incredibly good

Cheers!

 

[slukather]

When l would first get a new EBMM l'd check to see if it has a nice Birdeye maple neck, but now l don't really care what they look like to be honest, they sound fantastic, are more than realiable, it's only about once a year or so that l look down and think "thats a great birdseye maple neck", which it is, but it not the reason l bought the guitar.

Scott.

 

[EddieVanZ]

I agree 100%. Obviously a good birdseye would have been the classical "icing on the cake" (fwiw in Italy we say "cheese on top of the pasta" more or less
the Luke left me a very positive feeling. It took me a just to adapt to the neck, I still think EVH/Axis better fits my hand. Also true that the tonal range of the Luke is not reachable by EVH/Axis. Nonetheless, I don't care about the birdseye can be seen on stage or whatever, it's just for the beauty of the guitar itself.
With that said the Luke still remains a great guitar.
We'll se what happens this week.

ciao
Marco

 

[Welt]

I don't see the obsession some have with birdseye maple. Sure it looks nice and all, but its just a cosmetic effect. As Brent said, its considered a flaw by woodworkers. Sure is an expensive flaw, overpriced in my opinion.

When it comes to necks, the thing that should only matter is the feel, not the look. JMO

 

[CudBucket]

My Luke has virtually no birdseye. But it's such a sweet feeling guitar. It all depends on whether or not you're more concerned with looks than feel. Funny, you could have the nicest "looking" guitar but if it doesn't feel or play right, you'll never play it. On the other hand, a rather "plain" looking guitar that plays great will always be in your hands.

 

[Ali]

"Birdseye matters not. Judge me by my Birdseye do you? And well you should not, for my allie is EBMM and a powerful allie it is...."

 

[Eilif]

"Birdseye matters not. Judge me by my Birdseye do you? And well you should not, for my allie is EBMM and a powerful allie it is...."

So what model(s) does Yoda play?

 

[mbgreene]

So what model(s) does Yoda play?

Play an AL he would ...mmmmm...

 

[Spudmurphy]

OK, so you go to your musicstore and they have in stock, 2 of the guitar you want.
They play the same they sound the same.
One has Birdseye the other has no birdseye.

So which one you gonna choose?

Surely this is a rhetorical question - it just has to be the birdseye?

Edit :This inanne post was merely to get me off the 6 six 6 posting

 

[candid_x]

OK, so you go to your musicstore and they have in stock, 2 of the guitar you want.
They play the same they sound the same.
One has Birdseye the other has no birdseye.

So which one you gonna choose?

Surely this is a rhetorical question - it just has to be the birdseye?

Non-birdseye. For one, I don't think birdseye looks especially great - especially from a distance. Two, I would think birdseye could unpredictably effect the tone. Three, I think birdseye could prove less stable. Note the word “could” and not “would”.

I'll take one 20th Ann Sil to go, please, and hold the birdseye.